MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) — Around eight hours before Donald Trump’s campaign rally starts, a crowd has already amassed outside Madison Square Garden Sunday morning.
The rally is expected to kick off around 5 p.m., but roads were already closed around the stadium early Sunday morning, and security was in place. The crowd was allowed into Madison Square Garden starting around 12 p.m.
Before 8 a.m. Sunday, huge crowds of supporters in American flag and Trump merch lined the block around the venue.
“There’s a lot of energy, people are very sleep-deprived, everyone woke up really early, but it doesn’t matter people are so hyped up,” said Greenpoint resident Anthony Filipelli. “Regardless if you support him or not, this event is just an iconic American event.”
Trump will be accompanied by a host of high-profile speakers at Sunday’s rally, including his running mate Sen. JD Vance, Rudy Giuliani, former presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and his kids. Elon Musk is also expected to appear at Sunday’s rally.
One person, Michael Barbuzze told PIX11 News he had been at the venue since 5 a.m.
“I definitely am excited, I really wanted to see him,” one person in line told PIX11 News. “I’m here to show solidarity. … He calls it like he sees it.”
Counter-protesters are expected to demonstrate at Sunday’s rally, including billboard trucks and a town hall organized by the Lincoln Project. Organizers with Jews for Racial & Economic Justice also planned to protest the event.
When the rally was announced, local elected official Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal called for it to be canceled.
“This is a disastrous decision by Madison Square Garden that will endanger the public safety of New Yorkers and has the potential to incite widespread violence,” Hoylman-Sigal said in a post to X.
Other elected officials, like Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, celebrated the rally.
“The Garden is the world’s biggest stage and the perfect forum for President Trump,” she said.
A rally for Trump on Long Island in September drew huge crowds that camped out overnight and throughout the day of the rally.
The following streets are expected to be closed Sunday for the Donald Trump rally:
- 33rd Street between Sixth Avenue and Eighth Avenue
- 32nd Street between Sixth Avenue and Seventh Avenue
- 31st Street between Sixth Avenue and Eighth Avenue
- 30th Street between Sixth Avenue and Eighth Avenue
- Seventh Avenue will be closed to pedestrians from 34th to 29th Street
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.